3 Just a few days before Thanksgiving and 21 Westside residents are now without a home because of a fire. We're told a hot iron left on a bed ..started it. More than 40 firefighters responded to Victory Pointe Apartments on Ramona Boulevard, near the flea market. Channel 4's Vic Micolucci has been talking with some of the people who lost their homes... He joins us live on the Westside ..Vic, its so fortunate no one was injured. 3 3 It was a bad fire, but it could have been much worse. Take a look at that pile of stuff...it's what they used to own...now ruined. But they say at least everyone got out and is okay. 00-0608-1438-4550-551:04-1:11 Nickya McGowan / tenant 07 36 everything is lost.It wasn't your average monday morning for those who lived in these 6 apartments...when flames tore through their homes...1038 my neighbor was banging on My back door saying 'you've got to get out, you've got to get out, there's a fire in your building!' Laronda Smith's daughter wasn't there - luckily - and she's okay... but left with next to nothing. 1209 It's kind of of hard to tell your child two days before Thanksgiving you have nowhere to stay. We've got to stay at a hotel. Who wants to spend Thanksgiving at a hotel with their child? She's one of many people whose futures are uncertain now...as they struggle with how they're going to tell their kids all their toys, and clothes and shoes...are gone.07 56 no, they don't know. They are in school right now and I decided just to let them stay in school until I figure out what I'm going to do for the day and for the days to come.09 28 Christmas, Thanksgiving, only have two days in a hotel so waiting to see what's can happen after that.It took hours for investigators to pinpoint what caused so much destruction...estimated to be at least in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.458 we have a tenant that left an iron on on the bed, it doesn't appear to be anything malicious, it just appears to be an absolute accident.An accident...that took so much...but thankfully didn't take someone.1121 it could've happened when both of us were in there.That's why I think God it didn't. It just made me appreciate what I have even more because I basically lost what I got. 3 So the Red Cross is helping out...they're putting hte families up in hotel rooms for the next couple days and geiving them some basic supplies...but it's going to take a lot morethan that to get them back on their feet. If you can help out...go to our website...News4Jax.com or you can always email me at vic@wjxt.com.Live on the Westside, Vic Micolucci, Ch4, TLS. QUESTION: Has the apartment complex's management said anything about getting these families new homes?ANSWER: This is a part of the Jacksonville Housing Authority so they're working on getting them new apartments...but that's something they're still trying to figure out. A spokesperson with J-F-R-D says this fire can serve as a reminder to make sure you practice safety in your home. Don't leave a space heater unattended, unplug your appliances like a toaster, or an iron. Also... be careful with candles.

Comments

The views expressed below are not those of News4Jax or its affiliated companies. By clicking on "Post," you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and your comment is in compliance with such terms. Readers, please help keep this discussion respectful and on topic by flagging comments that are offensive or inappropriate (hover over the commenter's name and you'll see the flag option appear on right side of that line). And remember, respect goes both ways: Tolerance of others' opinions is important in a free discourse. If you're easily offended by strong opinions, you might skip reading comments entirely.